Page 37 of Once upon a Summer Night

He knew he hadn’t fully convinced them to stay the course with the UK and Ireland mess, but for now they were somewhat content to let him try his hand at Emsworth’s challenge. Emma was on the call and detailed how they planned to use the publicity to their benefit, and Colin again went over the numbers.

It was enough. For now.

He only had to meet with some employees before he could head home for the day. The afternoon meeting had gone way over, and he noticed it was well past six o’clock. By the time he finished with Mike and Candice, it would be after seven.

His phone rang. “O’Rourke.”

“Welcome back, Colin. I thought you might need some food, as I’m going to just go ahead and assume you weren’t able to stop and pick anything up before heading into the office.” His mother’s voice held no censure, and he smiled into the phone.

“Thanks, Mom. Be warned, though…there’s someone over there.”

“Oh?”

The word held so much hope in it, Colin cringed. “She’s a—”

“She?”

“Mom, please. It’s not what you think.” He gave a brief explanation of Ellie’s situation.

Evelyn O’Rourke was silent for a moment. “Well. The poor woman. If you want me to stay away, I will. But I can drop some food off and check in on her, see if she needs anything?”

Colin glanced again at the clock. “That’s not a bad plan. Will you stay until I get home?”

“Of course!” she exclaimed, delighted.

He laughed. “Well then, by all means bring some food over, Mom. Ellie is a quiet one, but she’ll enjoy your company. Who wouldn’t?”

“You’re a sweetheart.”

“I know. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

“Does your Ellie drink wine?”

Not my Elliewas on the tip of his tongue, but he merely replied, “She does.”

“Perfect. We’ll see you when you get home. Good bye, dear.”

They hung up, and Colin lifted the phone to call Ellie to let her know about her upcoming visitor. But Mike knocked on the door, poked his head in, and said, “You look like I feel. Can we fire a client?”

Colin grinned. “Firing clients seems like poor business practice. Come on in, shut the door. Tell me how it went in LA.”

Mike obliged, then sprawled in the chair facing Colin. “Candice went home, just so you know. This guy is a piece of work. He demanded a mixer.”

Colin snorted. “As in, one of those awkward parties held on college campuses?”

Mike nodded wearily. “He said he saw it on TV. Wants his choice of ladies.”

“We’ve given him plenty of choices. Unfortunately, they all seem too good for him, though his opinion is opposite.” Colin frowned. “What’s his new game plan?”

Pulling out his phone, Mike quickly forwarded an email to Colin. “There, you can read it yourself, but he’s thinking LA women aren’t for him. He wants someone from the East Coast.”

“Why?”

“Why not?” Mike asked sardonically, opening his hands wide, then shook his head in defeat. “I asked him the same thing, and those were his words, not mine.”

“Fine. Throw him a party. Ten women—but reinforce that this isnotan episode ofThe Bachelor.” Colin rolled his shoulders. “Ugh. I haven’t done one of these parties in years.”

“And may we never have to do one again,” Mike added, with feeling.

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